Sodexo North America's carbon dioxide emissions increased just under 1 percent year-on-year, according to the company's latest sustainability report.
In 2012, the food service and facilities management company released 65,042 metric tons of CO2e, compared to 64,411 in 2011.
Sodexo accounts for its carbon footprint following the guidance of the global Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and the company says its footprint had "no significant change" when analyzed on an absolute or per square foot basis.
Sodexo manages facilities for 700 clients in North America. It says that food services, the area of buildings it most frequently manages, are often the most energy-intensive operation in commercial buildings. The company's overall goal is that 100 percent of sites implement a reduction program by 2020, the report says.
This year, more sites across North America implemented equipment and process changes to reduce energy consumption; measured and reported on energy consumption; and engaged with their clients and staff on carbon reduction and energy efficiency. Yet just 7 percent of Sodexo's sites implement all three initiatives. Sodexo describes this figure as "low," but it represents a two point increase on 2011 levels.
The company has also made progress on the proportion of sites that implement each individual initiative, with energy saving equipment and process changes growing fastest, from 37 percent of sites in 2011 to 41 percent in 2012.
Sodexo North America’s emissions from travel decreased 49 percent between 2011 and 2012. Sodexo says it put the travel restrictions in place as a cost-cutting measure, with the added benefit that the company prevented over 8,000 metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
Sodexo's scopes 1 and 2 water consumption increased 2.6 percent year-on-year, from 413 million gallons in 2011 to 424 million gallons in 2012, according to the report. The 2012 figure represents a 5.4 percent reduction over the 2010 baseline year.
The company's goal is that 100 percent of its sites implement complete water reduction programs by 2020. Its criteria for an effective water reduction plan include client and employee engagement, equipment and processes, and performance measurement components, the report says. In 2012, 5 percent of sites implemented all three facets of the water efficiency program, up from just 2 percent in 2011.
At three Sodexo site, the installation of sub-meters and a database tool saved more than $30,000 in utility costs and more than 943,000 gallons of water, the report says.
The percentage of sites implementing Sodexo's entire organic waste reduction program - including equipment and process changes, measurement and reporting, and awareness steps - fell from 11 percent in 2011 to 9 percent in 2012. However, the proportion of sites actually reducing their organic waste output through equipment and process changes increased from 83 percent to 91 percent year-on-year.
The percentage of sites implementing Sodexo's entire non-organic waste program increased from 9 percent to 13 percent between 2011 and 2012, but the proportion of sites actually reducing their non-organic waste remained static year-on-year at 58 percent, the report shows.
The company's sustainability dashboard was rolled out to 1,000 clients over the course of 2012. The Sustainability Management and Reporting Tool, or SMART, was piloted at 22 locations across the US last year. It covers four key best practice areas: carbon and energy, water, waste, and healthy/sustainable food and environments.
In addition, SMART allows clients to estimate energy use and the associated climate impact; review progress and trend data in either a summary dashboard or in a detailed online layout; view customized and specific recommendations for making immediate improvements; and generate customized sustainability reports for internal and external presentation.
For details of Sodexo's 2011 environmental reporting, click here.
